Pitch-indicating attachment for sound-reproducing machines.



No. 814,941. v PATBNTED MAR. 13, 1906. O. L. GHISHOLM. PITCH INDIGATING ATTACHMENT FOR SOUND RBPRODUCING MACHINES.

APFLIUILTIQH FILED AUG. 8, 1005.

5 SHEETS-SH BET 1.

MIRHPFREQI!!! 6/207 Inventor Attorneys PATBNTED MAR. 13, 1966.

0. L. pggssam. PITGH INDIGATING ATTACHMENT FOR SUB-Rn RBPRODUCING MAGEINES.

APPLIUATIOX FILED AUG. 8, 1906.

6 BHEETB-SHBBT 2.

V V mm nmm Inventg;

wiinesseii Attorneys No. 814,941. PATEN'I'ED MAR, 13, 1906. C. L. GHISHOLM.

PITGH INDIGATING ATTACHMENT FGR SOUED REPRODUCING MAGHINBS.

LPPLIGATIOR FILED AUG. 8, 1905.

B SKEBTB SKBBT 37 Attorneys Inventor PATENTBD MAR. 13, 198$.

V c. L. cmsaom. mes mmcmme ATTACHMENT FOR sown REPRODUGING momma APPLIOATIO! FILED AUG. 8, 1905.

Witnesss No. 814,941. PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906.

G. L. GHISHOLM.

PITCH INDICATING ATTACHMENT FOR SOUND REPRODUOING MACHINES. APPLICATION mum we. a, 1905 5 SHEETSSEBET 5v Y lmF'entor U N ITE 1 SPATES PATENT OFFICE.

(Tl! A h LES l. U H-ISHOLM, 01* NORTH SYDNEY, (JAN DA.

PlTCH-lNDlCATiNG ATTMIHMENT FOR SOUND-EHRGDUCING MACHINES.

To ILZ/ whom it may concern.-

llv ii known that l, (mimics L. (liisnoriig n snhjwi of thc King of Great Britain, residing at Xorth Sydney, Ca )0. Breton, (amidslHUt invi-ntcd a new an useful Pitch-Indicating Allachmcnt for Sound-Reproducing Min-limos, of which the following is it specifiration.

Tho principal object of the present invcnlion is to provide. an improved moans whore by phonogrophs, graphophoncs, and other s1mndroproducin" machines may be utilised in lhv teaching 0 music, and pnrticnlnriy in.

touching absolute pitch. W

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of indicating devicc in the nature of an attachment which may be made and sold as a scpcratc article of mannflfl'l-lll'i and applied to existing sound-reproduring: nun'hincs or which may he, construct- ('(l as part of H, machinc during the manufacturn of tho latter.

A still hn-thcr olijcct ol' the invention is to providifor tho ndjustmont of the indicating moans in norm-dance with the pitch and tcmpo at which a. rocord is made, so that in roproduring the TN'UITl the speed oi tho niatllilll may ho adjustad until the selection is living rcprodurcd at thrpitch and tempo of rm-ording, al'tvr which tho indicating moans may H mljusivd until the key-symbol of reprodurl ion is in vorrcct position. Th0 spccd ol' lhv nun-hinv may than he inc-rciiscd or di- Iilllilhlwtl, vm'h lnovvmcnt cfi'octing n simullztl'h'nlih ml instmcnt of the indicator mid the into-r showing tho now kcy ol' rcprodnctlon, it lacing pnssililv to produrc any composition in i\'ll possihlc holy in troorclntion to tho zonal rvnlr-r and to iudivnlc the correct kr ul roprinluriion, so that tho pupil may roadil Follow tho svhwtion on tho (hurls provicusly rvl'crrcd to, n scpnrntv rlnu'l living pro mrml for pawl: hr).

\lith Hui-sound olhor ohivc'ts in ricw as will moi-4- hilly hmoinnl'lrr a )])('&H" lho inwntion vonsrsls in rvrl-nin novcl l'vntnrcs olconstrut-lion and m'rnngcnu-nt of parts hi roiniii'tnr l' iih' dvsurihvd, ilhisl ntcd in tho arcompm x ingdrnn logs, and particularly point= cd out in llnnppcndml claims, it hcing imdvrstood timi various changes in the form, proportions, sizv, and minor details of tho Stl'ifl'llllt may to madc without dcparting lmm no s nm or Mun-Hiring any of tho inlvnnlagvs ol tlw invention.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 8, 1906. Serial nindv.

Patented March 13, 19U6.

Ila. 2?3,266.

a, front elevation illustrating s portion of a phoncgra h and showing tho application thereto oi an indicating dcvicc constrnrtcd and arranged in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of tho indicating devices on an enlargcd scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the snow on tho lino c of Fig. 2. Fl 4 is a scctionni plan vim on the line (I d of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a; detail pors motive View illustrating tho application ul t 9 device to a'gramophonc. lig; U is an slcvstioii illustrating c modification of llw mchanism, tnc indicating-dial in this instance being circular in form. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the some on the lino g g of Fig. 6. Fig. R illustrates a modification of the invention in which tho (-ontrolling-lovor moves directly ovor an indlooting-(chic. Fig. 9 illustrates it still furthcr modification in which the indicating: lllvchn-nism is opcmtcd directly from the motor l i H) illustrnti-s u still further modification oftho invention.

Similar chnrnrtcrs of rcfvrrnrcn rc vmpioycd to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

It is well known that in sound-n Inducing machines the altcration of tho spooilhii iilifit" merit of thc record will change the pitch nod tom )0 of reproduction, and inpmcl irnlly all machines new on the market moansnrcprnvidcd for controlling tho spccd of tho rcrorct carrier so that the operator may adios-t tho 5 mm] in accordance with tho spvvd at which t e rvvord was originally made.- cvcr, is a matter of considerable dillicultv, specially for the nntrainod car, and itlms boon proposed to remedy this diflionlty by marking on ccch rccordtlic speed of recording and to cmplo chino a spend-in icntor whic 1 may be adinstcd in accordance with the Spifl marked: on tho record hel'or'c tho reproduction is 'lhc present invention is not intend ed mcrcly for the pur )csc of insuring n corroct reproduction in the pitch and tmnpo at which each selection is recorded, no nmtlcr how vital it may be to the corn-rt intcrprclnlion of that records composition, but is intcnded to first locate. a tonal ccnh-r from which to gravitate to both extrcnws of the instruments' compass and for pvrmitting reproduction of the composition in every possible key at absolute concert-pitch in every instance.

In ilH drawings, A designates n portion of a souriii-q'cprodncmg nmclnnc of any ilcslred This. how

on each r0 roducing-nm- 5 type, said machine having a s u-ed-controlling;- device, including a movable member B.

'lo this movable member is secured a rod ll),

carrying a llmllih pointer 11, that is movable over :1 suitable dial or table 12, having two parallel rows of griuluulions l3 and 14. The gradual ions 13 are listinguishably designated by the symbols used in musical notationfsl iii-tin; in the present instancefrom Ely, and the second lire of grraduations 14 is provided with urmcrids ind cating the metronome-l cmpo, acco rding to Maolzel. It is prefcrrcd also to employ two series of key-notes arran ed side by side, one in the major and the other in the minor scale, representing all law-signatures.

The dial or table carrled,in the construciion shown in Figs. and 2, by a vertically arranged standard 15, having an ad justingscrew 16, by means cl which the dial in table may be adjusted in accordance with any given piisition or the pointer, as will hereinafter appear; but the same result may be ac ccmplishcd by making; the "pointer adjustable on its carryingrod and-providing a setscrew 17 for locking said pointer after adjust ment or in case of a revoluble pointer moving over a circular dial. Either the dial or the pointer may be made adjustable. Be fore describing further the adjustability of the dial or table, which in some instances is unnecessary, it may be assumed that all records are originally made on a machine rotating at a given. speed.-such a s eed, for instance, as would indicate mid le C on the dial or table, this being the international concert-pitch for modern music, whether vocal or instrumental. lhe record so made is delivered to the pupil, who is provided with a machine haviru the same indicatuu mechani m and preferably of reciscly the same construction as the recon ing-machine or in the ease ("I a g-ranicphone arranged for a given speed of reproduction to a known speed of recording. The pupil having first ad justed his speed-reg;ulatm; mechanism until the pointer is in alinement \vlth the symbol C, places the record on the carrier and starts the machine. The reproduction which follows is in the pitch and time at which the record was made, and being in absolute concert-pitch the pupil may follow the sound reproduction on a specially-prepared chart written in the key of G, and thus become familiar through constant repetition with the notation and expression. The pupil is rovided with fifteen different charts each raving a different key-signature in accordance with the symhols on the dial or table, and the composition may be rcprodi ced by means of one record in absolute pitch in any key by adjusting the speed-regulator until the pointer is opposite a symbol represoutinp the desired key. In this manner absolute pitch may be taught the pupil in the most thorough manner, and

the device thus become of the utmost value\ and importance to )ersons remote from musical centers. VVitl i a device of this character the nmsical possibilities of key relationship, including the enharmonic changes of key, may be fully illustrated, all changes agreeing with standard concertpitch, and, further, every key is indicated by the pointer on the dial, and at the same time the pointer indicates the metronome-tempo of that key,

thereby fixing a standard of time measurement for each individual key. The table or dial is arranged in accordance with the effect produced from the varying speed of the machine to represent the absolute pitch of any chromatic interval. The key-note is fixed in all changes regardless of time, and thus insures correct intonation from any fixed center, in the present instance middle C, at standard concert-pitch. As a further example of the advantages'to be gained from an attachment of this character it may be desired, for example, to record a hymn in G and for the machine to lead a choir or chorus through some famous voice. If during re cording with the pointer opposite "G of the dial or table the rendition is too slow, the speed-controlling mechanism is adjusted un til the pointer is opposite D 1 or any key higher than G that will give the best tempo, then record in G with the pointer opposite Dl; and the hymn will be reproduced at absolute pitch in G. This record could be reproduced on any machine at a distant point in Gystandard concert-pitch, and the choir and organ scores could be read in the original key-i. e., Gand at original tempo of recording, the record bearing on the margin the key and metronome figures of speed at recordmg--i. e., G 152.

If the indicating'mechanism is placed on -1nachines of precisely the same construction and all records are made at precisely the same speed, there is no necessity for ad'ustment for different speeds. Lt is usual, owever, to regulate the speed of recording in accordance with the length of the selection, so that for a long selection the record will be moved at a slow 8 cod and for a short selection the record wil be moved at a high speed, the o'b'ect in both cases bein to secure a record w ich exte ds practica ly from end to end of the cylinder or from the periphery to a given point near the center of a. disk record of the gramophone type. I The machines also vary in size, and from imperfections in the spring or other motor, wear of the parts, or accumulations of dust in the driving devices the speed of machines of the same make, adjusted in precisely the same manner, will vary to a considerable extent. To overcome this objection, which is a practical difficulty naturally found where theattachment is designed for use in connection with different makes of machines, it is desirable to provide means for adjusting either the dial or the pointer in order that a preliminary adjust ment of a given tonal center may first be socured, a tuning-fork bein generally em.- ployed to assist in this a justment. The necessary adjustment may be secured by turning the screw H5 in one direction or the other to raise or lower the table, or by loosening the set-screw 17 the pointer may be adjusted and then looked in proper position. The proper adjustment" having been secured in absolute itch, the variations both below and above t e tonal center C may then he socured in the manner previously described and the record reproduced in all keys with the serge regard to concert-pitch at each change o ey.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the device is shown as applied to the gramophone type of sound-reproducing machines. In this case the table or dial is supported by a suitable bracket 24 and the operating arm or lever of the speed-controller is extended through a slot in the casing of the machine.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a further modifica- }ion of the dial and indicating mechanism.

n this case the dial 25 is circular in form and is provided with equidistant graduations hearing. the key-symbols. At the center of the dial is an arbor 26, on which is mounted a hand or pointer 20, and at the rear end of the arbor, which extends through the casing of the machine, is secured a cam-shaped gear 27, with which engages a rack 28, carried by the speed-controlling lever of the machine. As the s cod-controlling lever is moved up and down t e movement is transmitted through the rack and gear to the pointer, and the latter in revolving will correctly indicate the pitch of reproduction.

dial may he made equidistant as distinguished from the graduations on the dial shown in Fig. 2. In the latter case it is necessary to make the graduations smaller as the speed of the machine is reduced, for the reason that slight variations in redizction of the s eed result in considerable variation in pitc while for increase in speed a greater movement of the lever is necessary to eiiect corresponding variations in itch. By the employment of the gearin s own this variation 111 movement may e compensatedfor and the graduations may be uniform. In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the dial is circumferentiaily adjustable in order to secure the adjustment of the tonal center previously described, and the pointer is held by friction on its arbor, so that said pointer may also be adjusted.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a further modification wherein the dial or table is in the form of a segmental bar or strip 30, hearing graduations and rovided with the key-indicating s 'mbols. n aiinement with each graduation is a notch 31, and the several notches are By employing the. cam-shaped gear all of the graduations on the designed to receive the end of the speedcontroiling member, the latter being sprung into any one or other of the notches and being menipulated b hand in order to control the speed, thus ispensing with the screw-adjustment and permitting more ready changing of the speed ofthe instrument.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated a further modification wherein the itch-indicating device is operated directly mm the motor instead of from the s eedadjusting device. In this case the die or table is arranged at a slight angle to the horizontal and disposed in front of the machine. Over the table travels a ointer 33, mounted on a pivot-pin 35 and ihircated at its rear end in order to embrace a disk 36, that is moved to and fro with the governor as the speed of the machine varies. This longitudinal movement of the disk on the governor-shaft serves to move the pointer and correctly indicate the pitch of reproduction.

In Fig. 10 is illustrated a still further modi fication of the invention. In this instance the disk 36 is enga ed by the lower end of a vertically-disposedfiever 40, pivoted on a pin 41, that is carried by the hinged cover of the casing. The upper end. of this lever is adapted to travel over a dial 39, hearing the pitchindicating symbols. The dial in this instance is in the form of a bar having openin s 42 arranged at the different graduations. hose openings are arranged for the rcce tion of a stopfpin 43, which may be adjuste into any one of the openin s in order to form a stop for the lever, and by moving said lever until its upperend is opposite an one of the graduations the disk may be a jnsted to control the operation of the machine at the speed desired. Movement of the upperend of the lever to the extreme right will by friction on the disk 36 cause the complete stoppage of the motor, so that the lever acts as a. stopping, starting, speed controlling and indicatmg means.

t is obvious that the indicating means may be operated from any part of the machine and connected. to any of the movable parts thereof without departing from the invention.

Havin thus described the invention, what is claims is- 1. In apparatus of the class described, a 1

table bearing in parallel columns the pitc'h indicating symbols of musical. notation, a metronome time-indicating scale, a double pointer movable between said columns to indicate the itch and tempo of reproduction, and a spec -controlling mechanism connected to said pointer.

2. In a aratus of the class described, a

dial or ta e bearing pitch-indicating sym-' hols, and a metronome time-indicating scale, the face of said table being "provided with a slot, a standard, an adjusting-screw carried table for ation of the table will correspon by the standard and formin a suspension n'leans for said table, a 'dou 1e .omter, a pointer-support extending through the slot, a rod carrying the ointer-support, and means connecting said rod to the speed-controlling mechanism of the machine.

3. In apparatus of the class described,- 9. indicating the difi'eient ke s' in which a reproduction is made, said tab e being adjustable to the end that a dgiven gradu- "to the pitch orkey in which the record is made, and means connected to the speed-controlling mechan- .1sm for indicating on said tablethe absolute pitch of reproduction both above and below the pitch of recording.

4. An indicatin graph or like mac nc, having a speed-conattachment for a phono-;

mechanism, said indicating means compnsin a table or dial having-graduations designate by the characters employed in musical notation, a pointer movable over the table and under the control of the s ed-controlling mechanism, and a meansiif' efi'ecting adjustment of the table with relation to the pointer, whereby said table may be ad j usted in accordance with the pitch and tempo of the reproduction. i

In testimony that I claim my own I have hereto afiixed thepresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. CHISHOLM] I I trolling the foregoing as f Witnesses J. H. Jocmm, Jr.. M. O. AUERBAOH.

my signature in. 

